She arrives… and the sky opens up

After the assassination of her husband Henri IV in 1610, Marie de Medici became regent of the kingdom for her son Louis XIII, then only 9 years old. But her rule was contested: she surrounded herself with unpopular Italian advisors, such as Concino Concini, whom she imposed in power. In 1617, at just 16 years old, Louis XIII had Concini assassinated and exiled his mother to the Château of Blois.
Her reputation was shattered. She was accused of manipulation, excessive ambition, and incompetence. When she returned to Paris in 1621, she was politically weakened and publicly discredited.
Marie refused to disappear from History. She therefore commissioned Rubens — a famous painter and diplomat — to create a series of 24 paintings to decorate the gallery of her Luxembourg Palace. But it was more than just an artistic project. It was a mission of rehabilitation.
She wanted to show the world another version of herself: a strong woman, wise, guided by the gods, essential to France’s destiny. By blending historical reality, mythological allegories, and political symbols, she built a glorious narrative of her life, to command respect, assert legitimacy, and leave an eternal legacy.

#art #histoiredelart #painting #tableau #mariedemedicis #rubens #baroque #imagepublic #propaganda #pouvoir

Видео She arrives… and the sky opens up канала Curious Eye